Chapter 13: New Zealand

"Last time on the Ridonculous Race, the teams went to South Africa to shoot some elephants. Don't worry, no elephants were harmed, they just needed a bath. The Ice Dancers messed with the New Couple, Carrie brushed them off, but they managed to get into Devin's head and it almost cost him and Carrie the challenge. Luckily it was a non elimination challenge, so they got to stay. Where will we go next? And will the Ice Dancers try and take down another team? As if that's really a question. Find out now on the Ridonculous Race." Don announced.

"Welcome back to the Ridonculous Race. We're still in South Africa, and the Daters get first with the Don Box."

Stephanie pressed the button, and got the tip.

"Our next stop is New Zealand." she read.

"New Zealand, beaches, warriors, and face paint. There are two flights leaving for their destination, but they're leaving 15 minutes apart, so they'll have to hurry." Don informed.

"Let's go, babe." Ryan declared.

And they took off to the road, and went to grab taxis, with the other teams following.

At the airport, the teams that managed to get tickets for the first flight were the Daters, Reality TV Veterans, Ice Dancers, Goths, and Cops.

As the first group of teams got on to plane, Carrie spoke to Devin about his behavior during the challenge.

"Devin, what got into you at the last challenge?" Carrie wanted to know.

"I was just trying to keep you safe. I didn't want you to get hurt." explained Devin.

"Why would I have gotten hurt?"

"Well, Josee said..."

"Josee? Devin the Ice Dancers were just trying to mess with your head."

Devin the realized it.

"Oh my gosh. How could I be so stupid?"

Carrie smiled softly at him.

"Don't worry, Devin. We just gotta keep our eyes on the prize."

Up in the air, the teams relaxed on the flight. Stephanie fell asleep on Ryan, Owen was also asleep, pressing Noah against the window wall. The Goths were just staring off, and the Cops were just relaxing.

But the Ice Dancers were plotting.

"Do you think we rattled the New Couple enough?" asked Jacques.

"It definitely showed when they came in last. But we can't let our guards down too soon." Josee told.

Back at the airport in South Africa, the others were waiting.

"I can't believe we didn't get on the first flight." said Emma.

"Because you don't get to spend time with Noah?" Kitty teased.

"How many times are you gonna do that?"

"As long as I'm your sister."

"What do you think we're gonna do in New Zealand, Dad?" wondered Junior.

"I don't know. But I hope we don't have to chase rabbits again." Dwayne hoped.

Then an announcement came on, saying that tickets were now ready for the next flight.

"As the rest of the teams board their flight, the first flight has landed in New Zealand."

At the airport, the teams hurried off the plane, and out of the building. The Reality TV Veterans managed to get to the Don Box first.

"It's a botch or watch." read Owen.

"In this botch or watch, teams will have to come to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and whoever shot at the elephants in South Africa will have to collect a small jar of glow worms." Don explained. "And after leaving the caves, they'll give their worms to this local, and get their next tip."

"Let's go." declared Noah.

And the teams sprinted to the road to get a taxi.

"Remind me, glowworms are just worms that glow right?" Owen wondered.

"Basically." Noah replied.

"We're going back into caves? Oh boy." said Sanders.

"Don't worry, partner." MacArthur assured.

"We got this."

Up in the air, the second plane was flying to New Zealand.

"You won't believe this Mickey. But my ears actually feel fine." Jay informed.

"And my nose isn't bleeding at all." Mickey added happily.

The two then hi fived again, but this time they did it.

"Looks like things are looking up for the twins." Geoff observed.

"Awesome, dude." Brody replied.

"So you remember what to do this time?" Carrie asked Devin.

"Right. Gotta keep my head in the game, and not let anyone distract me." Devin replied.

"Right."

"As the rest of the teams, make their way to New Zealand. The first group have made it to the Glowworm Caves." Don informed.

The taxis stopped, and the teams ran out of them. They grabbed some boats, oars, life vests, and jars and then made their way into the cave.

"Okay, so the second we see some glowworms, I'll scoop them up." said Ryan.

"Got it babe." Stephanie replied.

"These glowworms better not get any of their slimy stuff on my unitard." warned Jacques.

"Just get the worms." Josee told him.

The teams paddled into the caves and looked around for the worms. As they went in further it was got darker and darker. Then the teams looked around, and then saw something glowing in the distance.

"There they are." said Ennui.

And the Goths paddled ahead.

"The first group of teams have found the glowworms. And the second group have landed at the airport."

The Sisters, Adversity Twins, New Couple, Surfer Dudes, and Father and Son hurried out of the airport, and to the Don Box. After getting their tips, they raced to get their taxis.

In the caves, the botchers were trying to get the glowworms. It turned out, getting the worms into a jar wasn't as easy at it looked. They were really slimy, and slipped through fingers easily.

"Don't you have them yet!?" Josee demanded.

"I'm trying!" Jacques yelled.

He tried to get the worms, but he hated the slime. Ryan was trying his best, and managed to get a couple worms. Owen scooped up a fistful of worms, and stuffed them in the jar. And Crimson had managed to fill her jar.

"Let's go." she said.

And the Goths paddled away.

"And the Goths have taken the lead." announced Don.

"Hurry it up, Jacques!" Josee screamed.

"Don't you rush me!" he shouted back.

While the Ice Dancers shouted, the Reality TV Veterans, Daters, and Cops got their worms. When the Ice Dancers noticed what was going on, Josee snatched the jar from Jacques and got the worms herself.

As they paddled out, the other teams arrived at the caves, and got their boats. The Goths were the first team to reach the local, and they got their next tip.

"It's an either or." read Ennui.

"In this either or, teams will have to decide how to get to Mount Tongariro. They can either, tandem bike ride or take a hot air balloon." Don said.

"Come on." Ennui told Crimson.

And they hurried off. They came to some bikes and the hot air balloons, they decided to take the balloon. And an intern taught them how to steer it, landed it, and helped them take off. Then the other teams arrived, and picked out which transportation they'd take.

The Daters picked the bike, the Ice Dancers choose the balloon, the Reality TV Veterans got the bike, and so did the Cops.

"The first group of teams, are on their way to the mountain. While the second group have finally entered the caves."

"There are the glowworms." said Junior.

"Good eye, son." complimented Dwayne.

And so, Junior, Carrie, Jay, Emma, and Brody collected the worms.

"Dude, this reminds me of the time we played that prank back in 7th grade." Brody said.

"Yeah, we decided to fill our grouchy math teacher's desk with shaving cream dyed green." Geoff explained.

"We got detention for a week but it was worth it."

"Totally."

Junior, Carrie, and Brody got their jars filled, and they and their partners paddled on.

"Come on, Emma." Kitty urged.

"Don't get your pigtails in a knot, Kit." Emma told her.

She used her finger, to smear some of the worms off the wall, and put them in the jar.

"Oh, I hope these worms don't cause any allergy reactions." Jay hoped.

"We've made it this far, Jay." Mickey encouraged.

After filling their jars, they paddled after the others. The Father and Son, New Couple, and Surfer Dudes gave their jars to the local, and got their next tips.

"As the remaining teams get their next tips. The first group are still making their way to the mountain."

Up in the air, the Goths and Ice Dancers were steering their balloons. While the Ice Dancers had determined looks to come in first, the Goths remained stoic.

"Hey Goths!" called Josee.

"Is the sun burning your skin?"

She was trying to throw them off their game, but the Goths continued to just stare off into the distance.

"The Ice Dancers think they can throw us off our game with their petty insults." said Crimson.

"But it doesn't bother us." Ennui added.

"We've heard worse."

On the ground, the Daters and Reality TV Veterans pedaled as fast as they could.

"You're doing great, babe." Ryan encouraged.

"So are you, babe." Stephanie replied.

"(Pants), are we almost there?" Owen wanted to know.

"We're almost there, Big Boy. Just keep on going." Noah told.

"I know I may regret asking this, but with all that we do on this show and the last have you ever lost weight?" Noah wondered.

"I think so. But I gain it back quickly." Owen answered.

The other teams had gotten their next tips, and had chosen which mode of transportation to take. The Father and Son, New Couple, and Sisters picked the balloons, and the Adversity Twins, Surfer Dudes choose the bikes.

Just as they were taking off, the first group had just arrived at Mount Tongariro. The Daters and Reality TV Veterans got off their bikes, and the Goths and Ice Dancers brought their balloons in for a landing.

Once they were all on the ground, they ran as fast as they could to the Chill Zone. Don was sitting in a chair, sipping on a glass of lemonade, waiting for the first team to arrive. All the teams ran fast, and through some endurance, the Reality TV Veterans managed to pull forward.

"Congratulations, Veterans, you're in first place." Don told.

"Awesome." replied Noah.

"Oh yeah!" cheered Owen.

"Ice Dancers, you're second."

The Ice Dancers smiled, but Josee began to growl.

Josee was yelling, screaming, and breaking things.

"You know how she is. She'll calm down soon." said Jacques.

3rd place came the Goths, 4th were the Daters, and the Cops were 5th. The other teams were making their way to the mountain.

"Pedal to the metal, dude." urged Geoff.

"I'm going. Good thing we had to go up all those stairs last time. My legs are in great shape." added Brody.

"Do you have any extra bananas?"

"Right in my pockets."

"Keep going, Mickey. It's just a bike." Jay told.

"I'm going, just be sure to watch for potholes."

And just like that a large pothole appeared in front of them, and they fell into it. Up in the air, the others were steering their balloons.

"You know, if we weren't in a race this would be a great date." Carrie said.

"Yes it would. Look, there's the mountain." Devin pointed out.

They steered towards it, and the Sisters, and Father and Son followed, though their balloon was going a little crazy.

"I've never driven a hot air balloon before." Dwayne said.

"They make it look so easy on TV."

"He should've listened to the instructor more closely." Junior whispered.

At the Chill Zone, Noah was pacing around.

"What's wrong, buddy?" Owen asked.

"I'm worried about Emma. What if she and Kitty don't get here in time." Noah explained.

"Don't worry. The Sisters are a strong team, they'll make it."

And then the second group of teams came close to the Chill Zone.

"Surfer Dudes, you're 6th, New Couples you're 7th." Don told.

The two teams cheered. 8th were the Sisters, and then it was down between the Father and Son and the Adversity Twins.

"Come on, son. We can still make it." Dwayne told, as he ran.

"Faster, Jay, faster." urged Mickey.

The two teams hurried as fast as they could, and got closer to the Chill Zone. As Mickey was running, he didn't see a rock on the ground. He tripped over it, and as he fell he crashed into his brother. The two fell, tumbled, and rolled.

And to their surprise, they tumbled right onto the Chill Zone.

"And Adversity Twins you're in 9th." Don told.

"What, we're still in this?" asked Jay.

"That's great." added Mickey.

Then the Father and Son came.

"And Father and Son, I wish I could say you're still in the game, but...you're not."

"Aw man." Dwayne complained.

"It's okay, Dad. At least we had fun." Junior comforted.

He smiled at his son, they may have been going home, but at least they got to do some good father/son bonding.

That's chapter 13